Cardioxyl presents oral heart failure treatment data for its experimental HNO prodrug at HFSA 18th annual scientific meeting
Chapel Hill, NC — September 16, 2014 — Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that its experimental heart failure compound has been shown to be effective in animal models following oral (capsule) dosing. The preclinical results demonstrate an alternative to intravenous infusions that could pave the way for convenient outpatient therapy with HNO prodrugs. The data were presented yesterday at the Heart Failure Society of America’s (HFSA) 18th Annual Scientific Meeting in Las Vegas.
The research, conducted in an experimental canine heart failure model, showed that Cardioxyl’s HNO prodrug CXL-1036 improved cardiac output as well as cardiac contractility and relaxation. These improvements in cardiac function were produced both when CXL-1036 was administered as an oral capsule and when administered as an intravenous infusion. The study marks the first demonstration that Cardioxyl’s HNO prodrugs could be developed for oral administration.
“We are excited by the positive results for an orally delivered HNO prodrug,” said John Reardon, Ph.D., Cardioxyl’s Chief Scientific Officer. “If Cardioxyl’s candidates prove to be effective in human clinical studies, then these data suggest we may have the opportunity to offer patients a convenient oral version for outpatient use.”
CXL-1036, like other experimental compounds under development at Cardioxyl, is a prodrug that releases HNO in the bloodstream following administration. Nitroxyl, the chemical name for HNO, has been studied for its potential as a treatment for heart failure; it acts to dilate blood vessels and works directly on the heart through a unique mechanism to safely enhance both systolic and diastolic cardiac function. Cardioxyl’s proprietary platform of HNO technology has produced a number of candidate therapeutics for treating heart failure, the most advanced of which is in a Phase II study.
The data were presented yesterday afternoon at the HFSA Scientific Meeting via poster #239, entitled “Acute Oral Efficacy of a Slow-Release Nitroxyl (HNO) Donor in Conscious Dogs Induced Dilated-Cardiomyopathy: A Look Through Left-Ventricular Pressure-Volume Analyses.”
About Cardioxyl drug candidates
HNO has been shown to produce a unique and very attractive combination of hemodynamic effects in both animal models and humans. This hemodynamic profile, comprised of improved contractility, lusitropy and vasodilation, distinguishes HNO prodrugs from other therapies used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and provides a strong rationale for the continuing development of this important new class of drugs.
About Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals
Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals is focused on the discovery and development of new classes of safe and effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Cardioxyl has developed industry-leading expertise in the chemistry, biology and clinical applications of nitroxyl (HNO) technology. The company’s core HNO platform has generated several pre-clinical and clinical candidates, including CXL-1427, currently in a Phase IIa study. Cardioxyl is a privately held company financed by life science venture investors, including New Enterprise Associates, OrbiMed, Aurora Funds and Osage University Partners.